The tune, "Branle de L'Official" was found in the 1588 work "Orchesographie,"
a 16th-century study of French dance forms, by Thoinot Arbeau (the anagrammatic
pen name of French cleric Jehan Tabourot (March 17, 1519 - July 23, 1595). It
provided information on social ballroom behaviour and on the interaction of
musicians and dancers, and contained numerous woodcuts of dancers and musicians.
It also included detailed instructions for the various dances. It is considered
perhaps the most valuable book on 16th century dance. The Branle de L'Official
was considered primarily a dance for the common people, although it did become
somewhat popular among the nobility.